YK MYK GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO EXPAND ITS BIG CONTROL ON DIGITAL MEDIA OPINION Rs. 5 RANCHI WEDNESDAY, 3 MARCH, 2021 PG-12, YEAR—10, ISSUE—297 (RNI NO: JHAENG / 2012 / 44137) WEATHER TODAY MAX 30 C MIN 13 C INDIAN-AMERICAN DIRECTOR OF WH MILITARY OFFICE APPOINTED WORLD Morning India State to register V-shaped growth ECONOMIC SURVEY PREDICTS 9.5 GROWTH RARE FOR J’KHAND IN 2021-22 SANJAY SAHAY Sky will be partly cloudy. AT A GLANCE MUKESH AMBANI TURNS 8TH RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD NEW DELHI: Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani is now the eighth richest person in the world with a fortune of $83 billion, according to the Hurun Global Rich List 2021. Ambani's wealth increased 24 per cent on a year-on-year basis on the back of a surge in the value of energy-to-telecom giant RIL. "India's largest exporter, Reliance accounts for 8 per cent of the country's exports and 5 per cent of India's total revenues from customs and excise duty. Reliance is planning a calculated shift to renewable energy and has decided to venture into the battery-making business ahead of the electric vehicle boom," said the Hurun statement. MANMOHAN BLAMES DEMONITISATION FOR UNEMPLOYMENT T’PURAM: Attacking the Centre, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said unemployment is high in the country and its informal sector is in shambles following the "ill considered demonetisation decision" taken by the BJP-led government in 2016. PG 5 CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 1,11,25,084 TOTAL DEATH: 157,289 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 115,096,758 TOTAL DEATH: 2,552,405 RANCHI: Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon on Tuesday tabled Jharkhand Economic Survey 2020-21 in the Vidhan Sabha. The survey states that owing to lockdown and its adverse impacts, GSDP/GDP of Jharkhand contracted by 6.9 percent in 2020-21 but the state is expected to show a V-shaped recovery and register growth of 9.5 percent in the year 2021-22 at constant prices. The survey stated the government adding the GSDP, which stood at Rs 2,23,566 crore in 2020-21 will now increase to 2,44,805 crore in 2021-22. According to the survey, "Due to the Covid-19 pandemic economy was disrupted and the GDP contracted sharply in the first two quar- ters of the current year. The signs of recovery have, however, become visible since October 2020. The recovery is expected to be V- shaped in the coming quarters. By the end of next financial year the economy of the country and the states would more than compensate for the losses it suffered during the current year". Notably, at current prices the GSDP of Jharkhand contracted by 3.2 percent in 2020-21 but it would grow at 13.6 percent in 2021-22. While analyzing the performance of various sectors the report stated that agriculture registered a positive growth despite decline in other sectors. The output of agriculture sector has shown consistent increase in kharif, fruits and various livestock products. On industry, the survey said that natural advantage that Jharkhand has is not being exploited to the full. The government is focusing on new industrial and investment policies in this regard. It stated that three new schemes were launched for creating rural jobs but MNREGA still remains the most significant scheme. The progress of MNREGA has been impressive and it has created lot of livelihood. Rate of inflation in Jharkhand was 7.6 percent in September 2020 and 7.6 and 8.1 percent in October and November 2020 respectively. The surge has been mainly due to Covid-19, lockdown of the economy and disruption in the supply chain. The highest increase in the recent months has been in food inflation. The inflation in urban areas was higher than the rural areas. It stated that average medical expenditure in hospitalization cases is significantly higher in the urban area compared to rural areas. Due to the costs a substantial population depends on informal out-patient care providers. The deposits of the state has grown at an annual rate of 9.9 percent and the credit at average of 7.9 percent between the 2014-15 and 2019-20. Thus the gap between credit deposit ratio has grown over the years The survey stated that among the three sectors namely the primary, secondary and tertiary, the tertiary has grown at the fastest rate at 7.9 percent in recent years. It has been a major contributor in the state's growth rate. The share of industry sector declined form 45.4 to 41.7 percent of GSVA in 2019-20. BJP raises issues of jobs MI NEWS SERVICE RANCHI: The BJP MLAs on Tuesday held demonstration during the state assembly for the third day on Tuesday demanding discussion on employment policy. The CM said that the opposition was hindering the working of house without reasons. They are trying to remain in limelight through such acts. The slogan shouting began right from the start of the sitting even as the speaker tried to pacify the MLAs and conduct the question hour. The BJP MLAs the Manish Jaiswal and Bhanu Pratap Sahi said government was doing injustice to the unemployed youths. The speaker had to adjourn the house till 12 noon after the MLA did not relent. The BJP members con- tinued to stage agitation after resumption of the meeting and then staged a walk out. Meanwhile speaking in the house CP Singh objected to including his name as member of senate in Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University and withdrawing it adding it was an insult to him. He tore the order in this regard before the speaker. Subsequently Pradeep Yadav moved a condemnation proposal against Singh and demanded that the latter be barred for the entire session. He stated that Singh being an experienced MLA should not have done this. Later in the evening the JMM held a meeting at the residence of Nalin Soren to draw a strategy for the presentation of the budget on Wednesday. Modi invites world to be part of India’s growth CENTRE DRAGGING FEET ON CCTVS IN CENTRAL AGENCIES: SC Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses during a public rally 'Parivartan Yatra' at Gazole College ground in Malda on Tuesday. ANI BEHIND COVID RESURGENCE States blame elections, wedding season as reasons NEW DELHI: NITI Aayog member (health) and chairperson of the National Task Force on Covid-19, V.K. Paul, said on Tuesday that the wedding season coinciding with elections in some states are few of the reasons behind the resurgence of Covid cases in some parts of India. Paul said he got the information after taking inputs from various state governments, which engaged with the Centre deputed teams there to find out the probable causes behind the steady rise in the number of cases. "People have gone lax on the Covid protocols. The reasons which the states have cited behind this laxity include crowding at wedding function and elections. Many states admitted this during the interaction with the OVER 2L SENIOR CITIZENS, 45+ JABBED NEW DELHI: As many as 2,08,791 doses of Covid vaccine have administered to people above 60 years of age and the 45+ population with comorbidities, taking the total doses administered so far to 1,48,55,073, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed on Tuesday. The cumulative figures include 93,03,048 healthcare workers and 53,43,219, it added. The Phase 3 of Covid vaccination covering 27 crore people above the age of 60 years and those above 45 with comorbidities started on Monday. teams deputed there," Paul said. Notably, municipal elections and other local body polls have been conducted in Gujarat and few other states recently, while West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry are scheduled to go to the polls in March-April. Wedding ceremonies also act as superspreaders of the disease since they attract a substantial crowd, often throwing social distancing norms to the wind. The rise in the number of Covid cases has been witnessed in Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Delhi, apart from Kerala and Maharashtra. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up Centre for dragging its feet by seeking more time for installing CCTV cameras in the offices of Central probe agencies like the CBI, NIA, ED and others. On December 2, the top court had directed the Centre to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment at the offices of investigating agencies -- NIA, CBI, ED, DRI, etc. -- which have the power of arrest and to carry out interrogations. On Tuesday, the matter came up for hearing regarding the compliance of the order. The Centre, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, sought adjournment in the matter. Expressing its displeasure, a bench headed by Justice R.F. Nariman told the Centre's counsel that it is setting an impression that the Centre is dragging its feet in the matter. Mehta replied that adjournment was sought, as the matter may have ramifications. The bench replied it is not concerned about ramifications. "This concerns the right of citizens. We are not accepting the excuses", said the bench. Motive crucial to prove circumstantial evidence NEW DELHI: Acquitting a man accused of murder of his wife, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said in a case of circumstantial evidence, motive plays an important link to complete the chain of circumstances, especially when death takes within four walls of the house. A bench comprising Justices R.F. Nariman and B.R. Gavai said: "Though in a case of direct evidence, motive would not be relevant, in a case of circumstantial evidence, motive plays an important link to complete the chain of circumstances." The top court noted that the prosecution has utterly failed to prove motive beyond doubt and the important link to complete the chain of circumstances is totally absent in the present case. "It is well settled that where on the evidence two pos- sibilities are available or open, one which goes in favour of the prosecution and the other which benefits an accused, the accused is undoubtedly entitled to the benefit of doubt", observed the top court. The verdict from the top court came on an appeal filed by Shivaji Chintappa Patil challenging the Bombay High Court order, which maintained the conviction and sentence passed by trial court for offences punishable under Section 302 of the IPC. Patil was charged with the murder of his wife. The prosecution alleged Patil was addicted to liquor and used to abuse and beat the deceased forcing her to get money from her mother. On March 23, 2003, the couple had gone to sleep in their room. Next morning, the accused told his brother, who THE TOP COURT NOTED THAT THOUGH THE DEATH TOOK PLACE WITHIN FOUR-WALLS OF THE HOUSE, IT CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH THE SAME MAY BE CONSIDERED TO BE A STRONG CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT THAT BY ALONE IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY EVIDENCE OF VIOLENCE ON THE DECEASED CANNOT BE HELD TO BE CONCLUSIVE. resided with him in another part of the house, that his wife had committed suicide by hanging. The trial court convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The top court noted that though the death took place within fourwalls of the house, it cannot lose sight of the fact that although the same may be considered to be a strong circumstance, but that by alone in the absence of any evidence of violence on the deceased cannot be held to be conclusive. "In the present case, we are of the considered view that let alone establishing chain of events which are so interwoven to each other leading to no other conclusion than the guilt of the accused, the prosecution has failed even to prove a single incriminating circumstance beyond reasonable doubt.", said the top court. The top court allowed the appeal by the accused and set aside the conviction and sentence passed by the trial court as affirmed by the High Court. "The appellant is acquitted of all the charges and he is directed to be released forthwith if not required in any other case", said the top court. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invited the whole world to come to India and be a part of its growth trajectory considering its seriousness towards the maritime sector. Addressing Maritime India Summit through video conferencing, Modi made the clarion call while expressing India's vision to turn up it as a leading Blue Economy of the world with its focus on the maritime sector. "Through this Maritime India Summit, I want to invite the world to come to India and be a part of our growth trajectory. India is very serious about growing in the maritime sector and emerg- PM Narendra Modi addressing at the inauguration of the 'Maritime India Summit 2021', through video conferencing, in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI ing as a leading Blue Economy of the world," the Prime Minister said after inaugurating the summit. The Prime Minister further said that the summit will bring together key stakeholders from the maritime sector and play a leading role in furthering the growth of India's maritime economy. ALSO SEE PG 7